Page 24 of Soul of Discretion

Nick nodded. “I have, sir. It seems we’ll need to wait at least another few days before we get the report. I threatened them with you, but it didn’t do any good.” He grinned. “Selena said she was immune to your charms.”

McKenzie huffed but looked secretly pleased. It was no secret he had a bit of a thing for the busty redhead who ran the morgue. Moreover, if the rumours were true, she returned his interest. Nick didn’t want to think about the two of them together—his burly, middle-aged inspector with so much body hair he was nicknamed Yeti out of earshot, and the voluptuous forty-something with a set of boobs that would put most strippers to shame.

His cell phone rang. His spirits lifted when he saw the caller ID, Aristocat69. He answered swiftly. “Sergeant Nick Cooper speaking.”

On the other side of the phone, Simon’s warm laugh caused Nick’s insides to glow.

“You sound so formal, Northernsalute.” The crisp English tones made Nick’s toes curl. He’d never get tired of listening to it. “I thought I’d call and give you a personal update. I know you enjoy those.”

Nick chuckled. “How do you manage to make something simple sound so damned dirty?” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, hugging his phone to his ear.

“It’s a gift,” Simon replied, tone sultry. “Remind me to show you how I do it next time we meet up.”

Nick held back his laughter while looking forward to the promise of another get-together. “What did you want to tell me? You do realise I’m at work and this isn’t a crUIzer hook-up?”

“I do,” Simon replied, his tone growing more serious. “First things first. Margaret is comfortable at the hospital, in a private ward. I’ve arranged for a psychiatrist to consult with her. She’s a friend of my family and she flies in from London tomorrow. Cissy is one of the best in the business and if anyone can help poor Margaret, she can.”

Nick had no doubt Simon was footing the bill for all this, and his heart warmed. “That sounds great, sounds like she’ll be getting the best care she can under the circumstances. Have you been able to talk to her yet?”

Nick knew Simon was desperate to get to the bottom of what had happened to his friend and was suffering pangs of guilt over not knowing whatever was happening was happening.

“No, the doctors won’t let me see her,” Simon growled. “Bloody red tape and bureaucracy. I tried everything, including my charm, but it didn’t work.”

“I think it’s more they worry about Margaret’s state of mind, rather than the paperwork and the red tape,” Nick said gently. “I’m pretty sure when they’re ready to let her have visitors, you’ll be the first one they let in.”

”They’d better,” Simon said fiercely. “Or they’ll find the full might of one very pissed off earl darkening their door.”

Nick grinned to himself. “God forbid that should happen,” he remarked drily. “They should be quaking in their boots.”

There was silence on the other side. Nick thought he’d lost the connection. “Simon, you still there?”

There was a deep breath in his ear. “Yes, I’m here. How the hell do you do that?”

Nick was stymied. “Do what?”

“Always know the right thing to say. Make me smile even when there’s not much to smile about.”

Nick’s skin prickled with the sudden vulnerability in his earl’s voice. “It’s a gift,” he quipped back. “See, now we both have one.”

The sound of Simon’s genuine laughter thrilled him. “Heaven help me, Northernsalute, but I seem to have met my match in you.” Simon stopped then said awkwardly, “I quite like it, actually.” His voice grew brisk. “Anyway, we’re getting off track. The other thing I was calling to tell you is that Jackie has managed to unravel a thread to the Caymans and she’s working on finding out more. Have you ever heard of a company called Barronian Enterprises?”

Nick wracked his memory. Barronian sounded a little like Baronne. Perhaps there was a connection. “I haven’t, but I’ll ask the mob specialist unit if it means anything to them. It’s a start. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Jackie is still digging; I swear that woman never sleeps. If anything else comes up, I’ll let you know.” There was a pause. “I, um, can’t see you for the next few nights. I’ve got a lot of people to see and a few events to go to given Jack’s no longer with us.” He sighed. “It’s not where I want to be, but I need to reassure investors and employees that things aren’t going to come rattling down around them. I’ll be donning my glad rags and doing the whole corporate shit. I’ll contact you once the fuss has died down. Maybe we can meet up again.”

Nick smiled into his phone. “The earl is doing his thing, huh? Mr Boss must play the part to keep the peace. I get that. You do what you need to do to protect your company and people, and I’ll work here trying to dig up some more leads. Our organised crime team may have some new information. I’ll let you know if I hear anything I can share.”

Nick was startled when a meaty fist thumped his desk. He looked up into the frowning visage of his boss.

“Cooper! Stop that stupid grinning and tell your boyfriend, whatever, to get the hell off the phone and get back to work. We have a job to do and you going googly-eyed on the phone is not part of it.” McKenzie glared at him but there was amusement in his eyes.

Nick’s face heated up. “Sorry, sir, I was busy getting an update from Mr Bridgeworth on the recent findings of his accountant.”

McKenzie’s eyes narrowed. “Mr Bridgeworth, hey? Well, tell him we appreciate any morsels of information we can get but right now, we have a murder investigation to run.”

“Yes, sir,” Nick blabbered, “I’ll wrap it up.”

McKenzie nodded before he turned away to stride across the office floor.

A loud guffaw in his ear shocked him back to the telephone conversation he’d been having. “Googly-eyed, he said. Is that true?” Simon asked between snorts of laughter.

Nick groaned. “Don’t. And I wasn’t googly-eyed, merely intent on what was being said. Listen, I have to go before he comes back. We’ll talk later, okay?”

There was no way in hell he was admitting to anything. He might be enamoured by Simon bloody Bridgeworth, but there was no way he was sharing that with the man. Not yet anyway.

“Sure,” Simon replied, still sniggering. “I look forward to it. Speak soon, then.”

The line went dead. Nick laid his cell phone down on the desk and took a deep breath.

Hopefully McKenzie hadn’t picked up on the fact he was “googly-eyed” over Simon and had forgotten the boyfriend comment.

The last thing Nick wanted was his boss finding out he was having sexual relations with someone close to the case. McKenzie wouldn’t have minded him banging anyone as long as there was no hanky-panky that could compromise the investigation.

Nick would simply have to make sure his boss never found out.